Jerrold R. Turner, MD, PhD
Photo: Jerrold R. Turner

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Elected 2005
Transporting epithelia must balance absorption and secretion with barrier function. Transepithelial transport of nutrients, ions, and water is accomplished by specific transcellular transporters and passive paracellular movement. Our lab has focused on the coordination of transcellular and paracellular transport, with particular attention to regulation of ion transporters and tight junction permeability under defined physiological and pathophysiological conditions. In one area we have studied signal transduction pathways that coordinate activation of intestinal nutrient transporters. This includes discovery of a kinase-regulated pathway that triggers acute ezrin-dependent delivery of NHE3, an apical Na+-H+ exchanger, to the plasma membrane. The consequences of increased apical NHE3 activity include myosin light chain kinase activation, myosin II regulatory light chain phosphorylation, actomyosin contraction, and increased tight junction permeability. Thus tight junction regulation and dynamics constitute a second major focus of our lab. We have taken advantage of these mechanistic studies to develop novel therapeutic agents that modify transport by manipulation of regulatory pathways. These are currently being evaluated for their potential in preventing or reversing human intestinal disease using pre-clinical animal models.